Beaten 1-0 at AC Milan two weeks ago in their opening second phase Group C match, Real should settle their supporter's nerves by taking all three points in front of the Bernabeu faithful.

Ronaldo is hitting his World Cup-winning form with three goals in his last two matches -- helping Real to a 2-0 win over Paraguay's Olimpia in the World Club Cup in Japan and a 5-1 drubbing of Real Mallorca in the Spanish league.

Lokomotiv, beaten 2-1 at home by Borussia Dortmund in their second phase opener and without league football since winning the championship last month, are feeling the effects of a gruelling season, according to their coach Yuro Syomin.

All the more reason, therefore, for them to struggle to keep the likes of Ronaldo, Raul and Zinedine Zidane at bay.

Though no easy task, Milan know that victory at Borussia Dortmund would be a major step towards a place in the quarter-finals of a competition they last won in 1994.

Filippo Inzaghi, joint top scorer in the first phase with eight goals, will lead Milan's attack alongside Ukrainian Andriy Shevchenko, supported by Portugal playmaker Rui Costa.

UNITED'S OBJECTIVE

Manchester United, who won five of their six first phase matches, are in a similar position to Milan before their game in Group D against Deportivo Coruna -- the team they knocked out of last season's quarter-finals.

Inspired by premier league victories over title favourites Liverpool and Arsenal, United stand to get a commanding six points on the board in Europe after their 3-1 win at Basel.

England captain David Beckham is hoping to be fit for United's midfield after injury, though he will definitely not be meeting up again with Depor's Aldo Duscher.

The Argentine midfielder, who broke Beckham's foot in a tackle less than two months before this year's World Cup has not been taken to Old Trafford, where he could have expected a particularly hostile reception.

Juventus, who drew 2-2 at Deportivo two weeks ago, should make short work of Basel in Turin to kick-start their campaign to reach the last eight.

The Italians have not conceded a goal in their last six home Champions League matches and have always beaten Swiss opponents.

David Trezeguet is expected to start alongside Alessandro Del Piero up front, supported by attacking midfielder Pavel Nedved.